Tinted- Paliage-
THIS autumn of brilliant, memory sets one thinking 11 how_ best to invite a repetition of its glory in our` gardens. Fortunately the choice of plants is _Very. Wide, so everyone can experiment. For those who can plant on a large scale our :woodlands give -the beat design ; here and there a tall. flaming tree or a dark evergreen ; in between comes the gold and russet scrub of hazel, beeeli; MaPle; and - Chestnut, and f carpeting the under-, growth:aicniany tinted brarnbles and Wreaths of scarlet bryOny, berries: To carry out such Sehemes, there are the numerous American maples of many sizes and ColoUrs, and the "suitia-elis with their long fern like kaves, of which Khii -eabit- R. Osbecki and R. fyphiha are good varieties. Sinnachs should be eUt-liack hard to encourage young growth and they like a dry, sandy soil Cherries turn a lovely gold, but their weakness is that the first storm generally strips them bare. Crab apples are better, for they retain their leaves longer and the fruit is as decorative in autumn as was the blossom in spring. The variety John Downie has very fine fruit. The Siberian crab Pyrus prunifolia bears masses of small, Orange-red fruit. Other trees with showy fruit are the Spindle tree; Eunonymus europceus, whose pink berries arc unlike other, and the arbutus which bears large crimson strawberries amid dark green leaves. The red dogwood, Cornus stolonifera, is grown for its vivid red stems ; the Cornelian cherry, Coinus Dias, has the double merit of blooming in winter and bearing cherry-like fruits, while C. florida has beautiful leaf colours. Callicarpa Giraldianct; which comes from China has violet berries and the foliage takes on a rosy-violet tint in autumn.
The Pyrus family, besides pears and apples, includes rowan, service trees,- and others with showy fruits and good leaf. tints.
Pyracanthus Lalandii bears masses, of orange berries which hang all through winter, as birds do not eat them. It grows equally well in the open or trained against a wall. I remember , a beautiful tree in my childhood which was known as Arizonian thorn; it resembled a very glorified hawthorn and bore large mealy fruit Much .beloved by turkeys; I cannot trace this variety in any catalogue. Hardy azaleas are almost as effective in their autumn dress as in their spring bloom. They will succeed in ordinary loam' without peat, if the soil is free from chalk or lime. Eucalyptus Gunnii is a really hardy gum, and as its yellow blossoms open in OCtober it deserves a place.
As contrast to the vivid tints of deciduous shrubs, some evergreens, such as yews and conifers, should be introduced into a large planting . scherite, while groups of bamboos and pampas grasses- give grace and variety and lead -gradually froni -the taller trees down to the flower beds. If a colouted carpet is desired the common Virginian creeper - planted here and there will soon ramble over a wide surface and will greatly; enhance the. beauty of an autumn Scene, - Erica carnea may, also be. used as it forms its flower buds in late summer, and, though they may not open fully before January, this heath is a thing of beauty throughout the autumn. Walls and fences are easily draped in colours. There is the ever-popular ampelopsis, both self-clinging Veitchii and the large quinquefolia, but it will be more interesting to plant some of -the fruiting vines which are just as hardy. For a very large space try the Japanese vine with leaves fully a foot across, which turn gorgeous colours in autumn. Vitis Thunbergi is the best variety. armata with bronze-green foliage and V.- purpureq with claret coloured leaves will both take good tints. The latter is a moderate grower suited to a small space. Vines grown for foliage only must be pruned to produce the maximum of young wood, as fruiting spurs are not required, and the leaves on young wood grow larger and cling on later than those on old, ripe wood. This applies more or less to all shrubs grown for leaves only as against flowers and fruit. Also the colours will be more vivid if the plants are not too well fed.
For small spaces the cotoneaster and barberry are better suited. C. horizontalis has brilliant leaves as well as red berries, while the evergreen C. augustifolia has orange berries, and C. Hookeri retains its scarlet fruit all the winter. The Mount Etna barberry, Berberis cetnensis, B. Thunbergi, B. virescens, and B. aquifolium, can all be trusted to colour well besides having brilliant berries. Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica aurea, keeps its golden leaves all the winter. Iris fcetidissima carries heads of coral seeds above its myrtle-green spikes. In the rock garden miniature shrubs, such as the dwarf azaleas, Berberis dulcis nana and Cotoneaster prostrata will blend into a charming scheme of colour with the silver saxifrages and cushion pinks. These lists could be endlessly prolonged to suit park or garden, rockery, or even- window-box. But enough has been said to show that any gardener who plants with judgment may deserve the tribute paid by an Irish peasant to my mother's winter garden, " "Tis Herself has the illigant grip of the month of June ! "
F. E. SETON.
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